Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has begun work on the screenplay for the Image character's next film outing.

Speaking to Coming Soon, the acclaimed comic book writer and artist revealed that the proposed movie will be a standalone story, geared towards a mature audience.

"The story has been in my head for seven or right years. The movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a standalone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary," he said. "The tone of this Spawn movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film The Departed."

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Spawn tells the story of Al Simmons, a former CIA agent who is betrayed to his death. After bargaining with the devil, the character returns to earth as a hellspawn equipped with supernatural powers.

McFarlane recently expressed his desire to cast Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead in the new film.

The Image comic was previously adapted for the big screen in 1997, starring Michael Jai White as the titular character and Martin Sheen as corrupt CIA agent Jason Wynn. The movie was widely panned by critics.